Oxford, MS (April 26, 2017) – Call for Entries open May 1, 2017, for the 2018 Oxford Film Festival, taking place in Oxford, Mississippi, February 7-11, 2018. The 15th edition of the festival includes a new film and screenplay competition with cash prizes, as well as a reduced submission fee incentive for female filmmakers.

Led by Executive Director Melanie Addington, the Oxford FF will screen films, television, and virtual reality projects in all genres, as well as promoting and celebrating Mississippi filmmakers culminating in the presentation of the film festival’s award ceremony. Through year-round programming, the festival works to encourage filmmaking in Oxford and North Mississippi while growing understanding of cinema through screenings, workshops and educational programs, during the five-day event.

The Oxford Film Festival has also added to the impact it is making with filmmakers, film artists, and the local community, by embracing its place artistically, politically, and socially in Oxford and the state of Mississippi. Last year, the film festival introduced an LGBTQ competition category as a reaction to the state’s Religious Freedom bill to create legal discrimination, and welcomed beloved film veteran Danny Glover to speak (prior to a screening of Raoul Peck’s I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO) about an upcoming worker’s strike and march in Canton, Mississippi to fight for workers’ rights and voting rights in the state.

Following her discovery that only 28% of the festival’s films to date have been helmed by women, Addington has instituted a drive to increase that number going forward by offering a concrete incentive for female directors: a 50% discount on the submission fee at Film Freeway. It follows the trend the film festival has taken in the past few years to be a prominent “voice”, and take real action in order to offer an oasis of culture, a position of advocacy and support on behalf of minorities, women, and the LGBTQ community, and and support diverse voices in the state of Mississippi. The music documentary and shorts categories all return for the second year, as well as the LGBTQ category.

When submitting their films to Film Freeway for consideration by the festival, women should use the following submission code to receive their 50% discount: BlacheOXFF

A grand prize of $5,000 will be given to the winner along with flight and hotel covered to attend the festival. Also, an audience winner will also be announced with a $500 prize.

Rules of the competition include: The film must be less than 25 minutes and must incorporate one of the following;

Artist Vodka mentioned verbally

A character wearing an Artist Vodka t-shirt

Placement of Artist Vodka bottle in foreground in a scene with logo facing camera

Artist Vodka logo is a scene, i.e. poster, flyer, banner, etc.

Or “In Association with Artist Vodka" in beginning credits.

A t-shirt or bottle can be purchased through the Artist Vodka website at http://artistvodka.com/ By submitting a film to this category, you agree to let the film be placed on the Artist Vodka and/or Oxford Film Festival website.

Short Screenplay Competition

The Short Screenplay Competition will feature the following prizes for the winning writer/filmmaker:

- A $1,000 prize for use in making the film from the winning script.

- OxFilm Society equipment rental for free for use in the production of the film if shot in Lafayette County as well as production support from OxFilm Society.

- Flight (if not local) and hotel accommodations to attend the Oxford Film Festival to hear the live table read of their script.

- Producer mentors including John Norris and Tate Taylor of Wyolah Films (GET ON UP, THE HELP) will also meet with the scriptwriter at the festival to consult on production details to assist in the making of the film.

- Second place will receive $500 and third place $250.

Eligibility rules can be found at www.oxfordfilmfest.com.

The festival was founded in 2003 by the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council. In 2008, it became an independent non-profit organization with 501c3 status committed to celebrating the art of independent cinema.

The festival screens short and feature-length films in both showcase and competition settings, hosts panel discussions on issues in contemporary filmmaking, and invites the filmmakers to interact with the audience at a number of social events.